COLUMBUS -- To hear offensive lineman Bryant Browning and other Ohio State's senior co-captains tell the story, Saturday's renewal of one of the storied program's rituals helped set the tone for the lopsided, bounce-back victory over Purdue at Ohio Stadium.

Prior to the noon game against the Boilermakers, the team had its annual captains' breakfast. As is always the case, a number of former Buckeyes who were captains during their playing days attended the breakfast and addressed the team.

"I think it's great timing coming off a loss,'' said Browning, a fifth-year senior and former Glenville standout.

A few hours after the captains breakfast ended, the Buckeyes put the 30-18 loss at Wisconsin in their rear-view mirrors with a 49-0 whitewashing of Purdue.

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Browning said this year's captains heeded the advice offered by their predecessors.

"It's definitely up to the captains and the whole senior class to keep the team together," Browning said. "We need to make sure everybody understands what we're capable of doing and what it takes to get the job done.

"This past week, everyone needed to keep their heads up," Browning added. "We have more games and more chances to get better. As a senior class, I feel we did a great job staying together so the team kept moving forward."

Another of this season's co-captains, senior wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, said he soaked up the words or wisdom from former captains.

"Their biggest thing was to remind everyone what an honor it is to play for this team," Sanzenbacher said. "Tough losses happen. Being part of the Ohio State Buckeyes, you have to bounce back. Winning is a tradition here."

Sanzenbacher turned in another strong performance, hauling in four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.

"It was weird that captains breakfast fell on the week after a loss, when leadership becomes more important than it always is," Sanzenbacher said. "It was really cool to be a part of that tradition. The whole thing reminds you what it means to be part of this team and this program."

Fifth-year senior defensive end Cameron Heyward, another co-captain, said it was "humbling'' to interact with the former OSU captains.